Snap-switch.



No. 153 304. PatentedAug. 22, I899. a. w. HART. SNAP SWITCH.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.) (No Model.)

'2 Sheets-Sheet I WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY m now-us um 60. PMOYo-ulnm wAsmuarou u c No. 631,304. Patented Aug. 22, I899.

a. w. HART.

SNAP SWITCH.

(Applicatiop filed Mar. 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR g fi 5 g Wit flare. Ea wvwsk 3 BY ATTORNEY nu: mums PETERS mpzamua. wxsumamu. o. c

"NITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GERALD W". HART, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SNAP-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,304, dated August 22, 1899.

Original application filed December 5, 1898, Serial No. 698,261.

Divided and this application filed March 1, 1 899. Serial No.

707,399. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD NV. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Hartford, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SnapSwitches, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This application is a division of a case filed by me on December 5, 1898, Serial No. 698,261.

My invention relates, primarily, to snapswitches and the like, chiefly useful in electrical service for quickly making or breaking a circuit.

One of the main objects of my invention is to produce a snap-switch embracing the desirable features of simplicity, effectiveness, durability, and economy, which device may be constructed to occupy a small space, thus preventing the unnecessary disfiguring of the Wall or woodwork upon which or in which such devices are ordinarily placed. Another advantage that this switch possesses is that only one main operating part or handle may be employed to effect the making or breaking of the circuit. In case the operating part is a push-button, as in the original case of which this application is a division, the position of' the button will indicate whether the circuit is open or closed. In this particular case the main operating part is aswin ging handle, and, like the button of the original case, the position of this handle indicates to the operator whether the circuit is on or off. This, it will be recognized, is an important advantage, particularly where the switch is located in a dark chamber or at a point remote from the device or devices to be thrown into or out of circuit. In the dark chamber of course it is of particular value, because the sense of touch enables the operator to ascertain whether the circuit is on or off, a thing that is impossible in the case of a two-button switch, where the buttons are ordinarily of a contrasting color and must be seen in order that the operator may ascertain the condition of the circuit.

Another object is the provision of a mechanism which permits the switch to be operated by successive movements in the same direction or in opposite directions, as desired.

dle in the same direction is of value when the position of the handle is to be relied upon for indicating the condition of the circuit and also when a cord-pull is to be employed, in which latter case the switch mechanism is ordinarily placed at a point out of reach and a cord is attached thereto leading down to a point within reach of the operator. The first downward pull of the cord closes the circuit and the second downward pull breaks and opens the circuit.

The switch hereinafter described possesses other advantages which are not specifically mentioned, but which are the natural consequences of the construction and arrangement of the parts herein fully pointed out, and said advantages will be readily recognized and ap preciated by any one skilled in the art.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch, the parts being of such a construction and so arranged as to be operated by a rotary movement. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being-illustrated in a different position from that indicated. in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar View, the parts being shown in another position and a' part removed. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the parts being shown in another position with anotherpart removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device as shown in Fig.

1. Figs. 6 and'7 are each perspective views of parts of the switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. Fig.8 is a plan view of a modification. Fig. 9 is a partial viewof the same with the parts thereof in a changed position. Figs. 10 and 1-1 are views of details.

1 may illustrate a wall or othersupport .for the switch.

2 is a frame-support.

3 is a central pin-support.

4: is a spring-actuated frame in the form of a plate, having a suitable hub 5, which is ro- I tatably mounted upon the pin-support 3.

6 is a tilting detent pivoted to the springframe at to one side of its bearing-hub 5. At one end of the detent 6 is preferably formed a notch'7, and at the opposite end is a nose 8.

9 is a pin or stud mounted upon the detent 6 between its pivotal support and its nose 3 l and the member 20, which spacer may be and projecting above and below said detent.

The edge of the spring-frame d is preferably notched, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4, which mayserve as one means for limiting the unnecessarytilting of the detent 6. The said notch or stop, however, is

' sufiiciently large to permit the said detent to tilt slightly for the purpose hereinafter described. In the same horizontal plane with the detent 0 is placed the operating part in the form of a lever-arm 10, rotatably mounted upon the pin-support 3 and carrying a hook 11, adapted at the proper time to engage said detent 6 and also to be freed therefrom at another time for the purpose hereinafter described. This operating part 10 carries a stud 12 and preferably carries a shoulder 13, which shoulder may carry a pin 11. The spring-frame 4: (which may be of generally circular outline) has a stop 15, which may act to limit its rotary movement in one direction, a suitable stationary post 16 standing in the path of movement and checking said stop 15.

17 is a sliding latch, one end of which is mounted upon the stud 12, while the other end projects into a suitable bearing 18 in the frame 2. 19 is a shoulder on said sliding member for the purpose hereinafter described.

20 is a rotating carrier having a hub 21, adapted to rotate upon the pin-support 3. This part 20 carries a contact-piece 22, representing one terminal of an electric circuit, the other terminal of the circuit being represented at 23.

2a is a shoulder on the carrier 20, adapted to coact with the nose 8, as hereinafter described.

and 26 are stops.

27 and 28 are notches in the carrier 20. If desirable,the substantial circularedge of said carrier 20 may be cut away at 29, in which cut-away portion the stud 9 may move.

30 is a retracting-spring, and 31 is a driving-spring. The retracting-spring 30 may be a coil-spring loosely mounted upon the hub 5, the ends of said spring being extended so that one end will engage with the lower end of the stud 9, while the other end will engage with astationary stud 40, which may be mounted upon the supporting-frame 2. The driving-spring 31 may be a coil-spring loosely mounted upon the hub 21,and the ends thereof maybe extended so that one of the same will engage with the upper end of stud 9, while the opposite end will engage with the stud 32. A third spring 33 may be provided, if desired, for returning the operating-lever 10 to its first position; but the same is not essential, as said operating leveror handle maybe returned by hand. Should the spring 33 be used, one end may be connected to the pin 14 and the other end to a stationary post 34.

35 is a spacer-plate between the detent 6 omitted, if desired.

The operation of the device isas follows: The first position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1 1, in which the circuit is open. In this position the action of the springs 30and 31 causes the inner end of the detent 6 to be pressed, so as to bring its inner end or notch 7 into the path of movement of the hook 11. To close the circuit, the part 10 is advanced in the direction of the arrow on said figure. The hook 11 then engages the detent 6 and causes the frame 4, (which carries the detent,) the dctent, and the spacer to rotate. The carrier 20 would at this time rotate excepting for the shoulder 19 of the latch 17, which projects into the notch 27. The rotation of the part 10, however, serves to gradually move the shoulder 19 out of said notch 27 until it is entirely free therefrom. During the lastdescribed movement the power of the driving-spring 31 is being increased'by movement of pin 9, so that the instant the shoulder 19 is free from the notch 27 the said drivingspring 31 by pressing against the stud 32 causes the carrier 20 to rotate quickly into sition further movement is checked by the stop 26, which strikes against the aforesaid shoulder 19, Fig. 2. This movement closes the circuit. Upon releasing the part 10 springs 30 and 31 move said handle slightly in a reverse direction and the latch 17 is retracted, so that shoulder 19 will enter the notch 28, looking the carrier and holdingthe contact-piece 22 in the on position, (indicated in Fig. 2,) and this same movement tends to return all the movable parts toward their original position. (Shown in Fig.1.) During this slight return movement each of the parts acts as follows: The shoulder 19 engages notch 28 of carrier 20, preventing further return movement of said carrier. The spring-frame at. carrying detent 6, continues to revolve backward, bringing nose 8 in engagement with shoulder 24, so that the further backward revolution of said frame 4 will cause the detent 6 to be tilted and released from engagement with hook 11. The further backward revolution of said frame 4: will bring stud 9 in contact with notch 36, where it is checked. Thus all of the parts are locked in the on position. To release and break the circuit, the operating part 10 is again advanced in the direction of the arrow until the shoulder 19 is withdrawn from the notch 28, at which instant by action of the retracting-spring 30 all of the rotating parts (excepting the lever 10) are swung back and the circuit broken. In order to again operate the switch to close the circuit, the part 10 is moved backward, carrying the shoulder 19 into the notch 27 and at the same time causing the hook 11 to travel around the inner edge and approach 1 the end of the detent 6, back of which it must i necessarily engage to permit the switch to the position indicated in Fig. 2, in which pothe shoulder 24 causes carrier to revolve and the shoulder 19' will be permitted to pass ,again be operated. When the hook 11 has position to be engaged by hook 11.

. construction, proportion, and arrangement reached the point where it is to engage the end of the detent, the action of the spring 30 tilts said detent, throwing its inner end into This tilting of the detent is effected as follows: The outer end 8 of the detent pressing against slightly in a backward direction as soon as the hook 11 has cleared the inner end of the detent. This slight independent revolution of the carrier is permitted by having slot 27 therein slightly larger than is necessary to receive shoulder .11) As soon as the detent 6 is thus tripped its inner end advances in front of hook 11 and all of the parts take the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The operation of thesw'itch thus far described has been effected by successive movements of the main operating part or handle in the same direction. It requires but slight modification to enable the operator to make and break the circuit by successive movements of the operating part in the opposite direction. Accordingly, referring to Figs. 8 to 11, it will be seen wherein instead of making the shoulder 19 a wide one it is purposely made narrow, and in this figure said shoulder is lettered 19. So, also, instead of cutting the notches 27-and 28 entirely through the carrier I provide said notches in the form of channels, and in the modification referred to said channels are marked, respectively, 27 and 28. These channels are connected by a third channel 39, so that instead of. requiring two successive movements in the same direction of the operating part 10 the first movement may be in one direction to throw the circuit on and the second movement may be in the opposite direction to throw the circuit off. This reverse movement will throw the shoulder 19' into the channel 39,-and the carrier 20' will, by action of the springs, as hereinbefore described, be quickly thrown back, breaking the circuit,

through the channel 39 into the channel 27, and the edge of this channel 27' will act in the same manner as stop 25, Fig. 1, to prevent the und ue retractionof carrier 20'. The next reverse movement of the operating part 10 will put the spring 31' under tension, and as soon as the stop 19 rides out of the channel 27" the carrier will'again be thrown so as to bring the contact-pieces 22' and 23 together and complete the circuit.

It is manifest that the parts of the mechanism hereinbefore described may be varied in form and proportion Without departing from the principle involved. There-fore Idesire to have it understood that I contemplate that the device particularly shown is susceptible of many modifications and changes in of the parts thereof without a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and in this connection reference maybe made to one i-nodification show u and described and claimed generically and specifically in my original application, of which this is a division. While I have shown in the drawings springs that are technically known as tension-springs, it is obvious that other forms of springs that are not tension-springs might readily be substituted without a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a device of the character described, an operating part,a'pivotally-mounted springframe cooperating thercwith,.a correspondingly-mounted carrier, a latch controlled by said operating part and coacting with the carrier, a spring for advancing the carrier when released by said latch, and a springfor retracting the spring-frame and carrier, when the latter is again released by said latch.

2. In a device of the characterdescribed, an operating part, a rotating spring-frame coacting therewith, a detent pivoted to said spring-frame and detachably engaged by said operating part, a rotatable carrier, a latch controlled by said operating part and coacting with the carrier, a spring for advancing the carrier when released by the latch, and a spring for returning said carrier when it is again released. I I

3. In adevice of the character described, an operating part, a rotatablespring-frame coacting therewith, through the medium of a detent, pivoted thereto, means for tilting said detent out of engagement therewith, a

rotatable carrier, a latch controlled by said operating part and coacting with saidcarrier,

a driving-spring and a retracting-spring.

4. In a device of the character described, an operating part, a rotatable contact-carrier, driving and retracting springs, means controlled by said operating part to increase the power of said springs, and meansto release the driving-spring near the limit. of the first advance movement of the operating part, and means to release the carrier, the detent and the spring-firame,by the second advance movementof said operating part.

5. In a device of the character described, an operating part, a pivotally-mounted contact-carrier, a latch controlled by said operating part and cooperating with said carrier, a pivotally-mounted spring-frame controlled by said operating part, springs connecting said spring-frame with a frameesupport and with'the carrier.

G. In a device of the character described,

an operating part, a pi votally-mounted contact-carrier, springs,a latch controlled by said operating'part, and cooperating with said contact-carrier, a spring-frame pivotally mount 7. In a device of the character described,

a main operating part, a pivotally-mounted contact-carrier, a driving-spring therefor, a latch controlled by the movement of said operating part to engage and release saidcarrier, and means controlled by a successive movement of said operating part to move the carrier in a direction opposite to thatinduced by the driving-spring.

8. In a device of the character described, a main operating part, a pivotally-mount-ed carrier, a spring to advance said carrier, a latch operated by the movement of said operating part to alternately engage and release said carrier, and means operated by a successive movement of said operating part to move the carrier in a direction opposite-to that-induced by the first-named spring.

9. In a device of the character described, an operating part, a pivotally-monnted contact-carrier, a latch for detachably engaging said carrier near each end of its throw, a spring frame pivotally mounted and in detachable engagement with said operating part, means for advancing said carrier when first released by said latch, and means for retracting said carrier when again released by said latch.

0. In a device of the'character described,

an operating part, a spring-frame, a detent pivoted thereon, a spring for retracting said spring-frame, and actuating said detent, a

sliding latch controlled by said operating part, a carrier engaged by said latch, and a drivi ng-spring between said springframe and spring between said spring-frame and said carrier, and a retracting-spring.

Signed at Hartford, Connecticut, this 23d day of February, 1899.

GERALD W. HART.

\Vitnesses:

T. B. ENDERS, A; V. MCLINDEN. 

